Pre-Use Checks and Periodic Examinations
Periodic examinations shall be completed by a person, other than the user, competent in the examination of SRLs, in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. The interval will be dictated by the usage, local regulations, and environmental conditions, and will be at least annually. See Table 4 Periodic Examination Interval for more information.
The safety of the user relies upon the continued efficiency and durability of the equipment. Therefore, pre-use checks shall be completed before each use. A record shall be kept of the results of the examination. See Table 5 Pre-Use Checks for pre-use check information.
Table 8 Periodic Examination Interval
| Usage | Interval |
|---|---|
| Infrequent to light | Annually (12 months) |
| Moderate to heavy | Semi-annually to annually (6-12 months) |
| Severe to continuous | Quarterly to semi-annually (3-6 months) |
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Usage shall be determined by a competent person. |
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Maximum product life: Continued use is dependent upon passing pre-use checks and periodic examinations. Service life may be reduced by frequency and conditions of use or local regulations.
| Pre-Use Checks | Method |
|---|---|
| Load Indicator | Ensure load indicator has not been deployed. See product label for examples of deployed load indicator. |
| Labels | Ensure labels are present and legible. |
| Examination Date | Ensure date of next examination has not elapsed. Ensure a periodic examination is not due as determined by a competent person. See Table 1 Periodic Examination Interval and product’s inspection checklist. |
| General Condition and Lifeline |
For Cable Versions: Examine for signs of excessive damage, wear, corrosion or contamination. Inspect entire length of lifeline for kinks, bends, broken wires, bird caging, corrosion, damaged splices or damaged thimbles. Damage to the cable can significantly impact the performance. Verify there are no reductions in diameter of the lifeline. For Synthetic Rope Versions: Examine for signs of excessive damage, wear, or contamination. Inspect entire length of lifeline for broken, frayed, cut, abraded, or missing strands. Verify there are no reductions in width or thickness of the lifeline. Verify there are no smooth, discolored, shiny, hardened, or glazed areas of the lifeline that indicate exposure to heat or chemicals. |
| Energy Absorber |
Check energy absorber for signs of cuts, abrasion, tears, burns, mold, discoloration or chemical damage. Verify the white tear webbing is not significantly exposed through the energy absorber cover. NOTE: For V-TEC EDGE SRLs Only |
| Extraction and Retraction | Inspect lifeline extraction and retraction by pulling the full length of the line out and letting it retract back into the housing in a controlled manner. Maintain a light tension on the lifeline while it retracts. The line operation must be smooth and unhesitant. |
| Lock-on | Pull sharply on the lifeline – ensure device locks. Repeat three times. |
|
Housing / Fasteners / Swivel |
Examine the housing and verify there are no cracks, excessive signs of wear, or extreme discoloration. Verify that all fasteners and the swivel are in place, are secure and do not show signs of excessive damage, wear or corrosion. Verify the swivel can rotate. |
|
Handle |
If present, examine the housing handle and verify there are no cracks, excessive signs of wear, or extreme discoloration. |
| Connectors | Check for correct operation of connector and connector gate. Examine the connectors for signs of excessive damage, wear, or corrosion. |
| Nozzle and Nozzle Rod |
Inspect the nozzle for signs of excessive damage, wear or contamination. The interior nozzle rod may show signs of damage or wear without necessitating the product's removal from service as long as the product meets all other pre-use and functional checks. |
Hazards
WARNING!
| • | Use caution when working around moving machinery. Chemical hazards, heat, and corrosion may damage the SRL. Any chemical exposure should be avoided, if possible. All chemical hazards should be accounted for prior to beginning work. |
| • | More frequent formal inspections are required in environments with chemical hazards, heat, and corrosion. As with all chemical exposures, consult the safety officer for review and recommendations for decontamination. Cleaning is strongly suggested - reference specific product cleaning guidance. |
| • | Prior to use, the end user is responsible for testing the product in the environment and conditions in which it will be used. |
Failure to follow these warnings can result in serious personal injury or death.